Firefly Watch Citizen Science Project

For Project Participants

To Submit Observations

Project FAQ

Firefly Watch combines an annual summer evening ritual with scientific research. Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies.

Why Watch Fireflies?

Are firefly populations growing or shrinking, and what could lead to changes in their populations? Mass Audubon has teamed up with researchers from Tufts University to track the fate of these amazing insects.

With your help, we hope to learn about the geographic distribution of fireflies and what environmental factors impact their abundance.

Join the Project

Anyone in North America can participate in Firefly Watch. All you need to do is spend at least 10 minutes once a week during firefly season observing fireflies in one location (your backyard or in a nearby field). All firefly sightings—or lack thereof—are valuable!

If you have participated through Museum of Science (MOS), you will need to create a new account with Mass Audubon. Any data you’ve entered on the MOS site this year is not displayed on our sighting map but will be retained.